The concept of being teachable is a significant theme throughout the Bible, emphasizing the importance of humility, wisdom, and the willingness to learn and grow in one's faith and understanding of God's Word. A teachable spirit is often associated with the wise and righteous, contrasting with the prideful and foolish who reject instruction.

Biblical Foundation

1. Proverbs and Wisdom Literature: The Book of Proverbs frequently highlights the value of being teachable. Proverbs 9:9 states, "Instruct a wise man, and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man, and he will increase his learning." This verse underscores the idea that wisdom is not static but grows through instruction and learning. Similarly, Proverbs 1:5 encourages, "Let the wise listen and gain instruction, and the discerning acquire wise counsel."

2. Jesus' Teachings: Jesus exemplified and taught the importance of a teachable heart. In Matthew 11:29, He invites, "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." Here, Jesus emphasizes humility as a prerequisite for learning from Him. His parables and teachings often required listeners to be open and receptive to deeper truths.

3. The Disciples: The disciples of Jesus are examples of teachable individuals. Despite their initial misunderstandings and failures, they remained committed to learning from Jesus. In Mark 4:34, it is noted, "He did not tell them anything without using a parable. But privately He explained everything to His own disciples." Their willingness to seek understanding and clarification from Jesus demonstrates a teachable spirit.

4. Apostolic Instruction: The apostles continued to stress the importance of being teachable in the early church. In James 1:21, believers are instructed, "Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and every expression of evil, and humbly receive the word planted in you, which can save your souls." This passage highlights the necessity of humility in receiving and applying God's Word.

5. The Role of the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in teaching believers. In John 14:26, Jesus promises, "But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have told you." The Spirit guides believers into all truth, requiring a teachable heart to discern and apply His guidance.

Characteristics of a Teachable Spirit

· Humility: Acknowledging one's limitations and the need for growth is foundational to being teachable. Pride and self-sufficiency are barriers to learning.
· Openness: A teachable person is open to new insights and willing to change previously held beliefs when confronted with biblical truth.
· Diligence: Being teachable involves a commitment to study and understand Scripture, as seen in the Bereans who "examined the Scriptures every day to see if these teachings were true" (Acts 17:11).
· Receptivity to Correction: Proverbs 12:1 states, "Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but whoever hates correction is stupid." A teachable spirit embraces correction as a means of growth.

Practical Application

In the life of a believer, being teachable involves regular engagement with Scripture, prayer for understanding, and a willingness to be shaped by God's Word. It also includes seeking counsel from mature Christians and being open to the leading of the Holy Spirit. A teachable spirit is essential for spiritual maturity and effective discipleship, enabling believers to grow in their relationship with God and their understanding of His will.2 Timothy 2:15
Study to show yourself approved to God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
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1 Corinthians 12:28
And God has set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
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John 3:1-36
There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
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Psalm 119:105
Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path.
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John 6:63
It is the spirit that vivifies; the flesh profits nothing: the words that I speak to you, they are spirit, and they are life.
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John 17:17
Sanctify them through your truth: your word is truth.
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(a.) Capable of being taught; apt to learn; also, willing to receive instruction; docile.

1 Corinthians xiii. 11
... If a child then on the one hand be teachable, yet he is at the same time
morally weak and ignorant, and therefore extremely selfish. ...
/.../arnold/the christian life/lecture ii 1 corinthians xiii.htm

Luke i. 3,4.
... But this really teachable and humble learner finds a false spelling in one of his
books; or hears his teacher, from oversight, say one word in his explanation ...
//christianbookshelf.org/arnold/the christian life/lecture xxxii luke i 34.htm

The Poor in Spirit
... But the poor in spirit are not the poor-spirited. They are simply the teachable,
the receptive, the people who want help and are conscious of need. ...
/.../peabody/mornings in the college chapel/xxii the poor in spirit.htm

To Go on to what He Says...
... To go on to what he says, "that a bishop should be teachable,'" [1562] adding,
"But he is teachable who is gentle and meek to learn; for a bishop ought not ...
/.../writings in connection with the donatist controversy /chapter 26 37 to.htm

It is in the Power of Evil Men to Sin; but to do this or that by ...
... Those who belong to this calling are all teachable by God; nor can any of them say,
"I believed in order to being thus called," because the mercy of God ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 33 it is in the.htm

Christ's Sheep
... And therefore Christ pitied them, because they were teachable, willing to be
taught, and worth teaching; and yet had no one to teach them. ...
/.../kingsley/town and country sermons/sermon v christs sheep.htm

Inward Witness to the Truth of the Gospel.
... Now how comes this to pass? It happens in several ways. 1. Consider the Bible
tells us to be meek, humble, single-hearted, and teachable. ...
/.../newman/parochial and plain sermons vol viii/sermon viii inward witness to.htm

Directions How to Hear Sermons
... Our blessed Lord, as he always was willing to instruct those that were teachable,
(herein setting his ministers an example to be courteous and easy of access ...
/.../selected sermons of george whitefield/directions how to hear sermons.htm

The Call by the Sea
... their time. They were men of native ability, and they were humble and
teachable,"men whom He could educate for His work. In the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the desire of ages/chapter 25 the call by.htm

Epistle Lxxiii. To Pompey, against the Epistle of Stephen About ...
... which, the blessed Apostle Paul writes to Timothy, and warns him that a bishop must
not be "litigious, nor contentious, but gentle and teachable." [2909] Now ...
/.../cyprian/the epistles of cyprian/epistle lxxiii to pompey against.htm

Teachable (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Teachable (1 Occurrence). ... Let him prove it by a right
life with conduct guided by a wisely teachable spirit. (WEY). ...
/t/teachable.htm - 6k

Guided (86 Occurrences)
... (WEB RSV). James 3:13 Which of you is a wise and well-instructed man? Let him prove
it by a right life with conduct guided by a wisely teachable spirit. (WEY). ...
/g/guided.htm - 31k

Wisely (60 Occurrences)
... James 3:13 Which of you is a wise and well-instructed man? Let him prove it by a
right life with conduct guided by a wisely teachable spirit. (WEY). ...
/w/wisely.htm - 24k

Well-instructed (1 Occurrence)
... James 3:13 Which of you is a wise and well-instructed man? Let him prove it by a
right life with conduct guided by a wisely teachable spirit. (WEY). ...
/w/well-instructed.htm - 6k

Docile (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (a.) Teachable; easy to manage; docible. 2. (a.) Disposed
to be taught; tractable; easily managed; as, a docile child. ...
/d/docile.htm - 7k

Prove (83 Occurrences)
... (WEY). James 3:13 Which of you is a wise and well-instructed man? Let him prove
it by a right life with conduct guided by a wisely teachable spirit. (WEY). ...
/p/prove.htm - 34k

Teacher (103 Occurrences)

/t/teacher.htm - 61k

Teach (172 Occurrences)

/t/teach.htm - 65k

Israel (27466 Occurrences)
... And the ancestors of the people, Abraham, Jacob, and others, do not appear on the
stage of history with teachable creed, but themselves first learn to know ...
/i/israel.htm - 101k

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